Civil War Generals’ Wives BOM – Month Three

~ Pamela Klingensmith ~ Leave a comment

Here it is, my last post of 2011.  This month’s block of the month is in honor of General William Tecumseh Sherman’s wife.  Since he was a Yankee general, there are no forts named after him as there are for the Southern generals.  I have no partiality to the North or South – I am neutral.  My mother is 100% Southern belle and my father is 100% Yankee.  General Sherman’s wife, Ellen, was a highly educated, very politically active woman.  You go girl!

I must confess, I am not an accomplished quilter, so I have one thing to say about this block – tedious.  I find quilting more difficult than garment sewing because it is one dimensional.  Measurements and seams must be spot on or the whole thing ends up askew.  Garment sewing is three dimensional and easier to ‘fudge’ when something doesn’t match up perfectly.  I’m learning patience every day.  🙂
Have a safe New Year’s Eve and a “sewcessful” 2012.  Thank you for reading my blog.


Colette Patterns 1016 (Ginger Skirt)

~ Pamela Klingensmith ~ 4 Comments
This pattern offers an a-line skirt with three waistband versions.  I chose to make version 3, which has a straight waistband, but the skirt is cut on the bias.  Since this was my muslin, I used a very inexpensive suiting fabric that I purchased on sale at my local Hancock Fabric store.  I paid just under $10 for the fabric.  I did not need to alter the pattern at all.


This was the first Colette pattern that I’ve used and I have to say . . . . I am hooked!  I love everything about the pattern from the fit to the packaging.  The pattern does not have instructions to add a lining, but that’s a really easy addition so I did put one in this skirt.  I prefer to line most of my skirts. 

Rather than hemming the bottom of the lining, I added lace to it and tacked it down at the front, back, and side seams.  I like the feminity that the lace adds.

Here’s a picture of the how pretty the skirt hangs around the hemline.  I really like how the skirt is fitted in the hips and then flares slightly toward the hemline.  The concept kind of reminds me of the nice silhouette that bootcut jeans give.

I like this skirt so much that I purchased some very expensive, 4-ply, 100% silk fabric from Yellowbird Fabrics in SLC to make into a beautiful Spring garment.  I plan to sew it up in either version 1 or 2 next time.